The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the joints on the sides of your skull, just in front of your ears. They act as a hinge; they connect your jaw to your skull and allow it to move. They are among the most complex and important joints in the body.
TMJ disorder, often just referred to as TMJ, is a painful disorder that involves dysfunction of the jaw joints and the muscles that control the jaw's movement. This can be an incredibly painful condition that restricts movement of the jaw or causes jaw lock.
People with TMJ often experience not just facial and jaw pain, but also pain in the neck. Wondering what the connection is? Here is some information that may help you get the right treatment.
The Upper Cervical Spine and TMJ
The upper cervical spine consists of the seven uppermost vertebrae that run from the base of the skull and down through the neck. The atlas (C1) and axis (C2) are the top two vertebrae, which play a very important role in the movement of the head and neck. They are responsible for the head's range of motion, allowing you to turn your head from side to side or tilt it.
The atlas and axis are prone to injury from any jolts to the head you may sustain in an accident, while playing sports, roughhousing, falling, or even from prolonged poor posture. When misaligned, it causes inflammation and throws off the head's symmetry, resulting in uneven muscle tension that can affect the jaw joints.
Many people with TMJ suffer for years without even realizing that the root cause of their problem may be in their neck. Until this root cause is addressed, problems with the jaw joints will be recurring.
How We Help Treat TMJ By Fixing Neck Issues
If you suffer from neck pain along with your TMJ, then chiropractic care may be the key to relief. At the Blair Chiropractic Clinic in Lubbock, Texas, our Dr. Gordon Elder is an upper cervical specialist who is expertly trained to help with misalignments of the atlas and axis.
Dr. Elder is a practitioner of the Blair Chiropractic Technique, a technique that takes advantage of advanced diagnostic technology to help doctors make a more precise assessment of your unique anatomy. Blair practitioners are also trained to apply specialized methods to make gentler, swifter, longer-lasting adjustments that are far more comfortable and precise than the jerks and jolts associated with traditional chiropractic care.
Dr. Elder has a three-step treatment plan that begins with a thorough assessment. Using state-of-the-art 3D imaging tools, he can better visualize the problems.
The second step involves the healing process, during which Dr. Elder will coax your spine back into proper alignment using low-pressure techniques. Once properly aligned, you will continue to feel relief as the body's natural healing mechanisms take over and begin repairing damage and restoring wellness.
Finally, Dr. Elder recommends regular chiropractic visits added to your healthcare routine so that he can help prevent problems from returning and nip issues in the bud.
If you're having trouble finding relief for your TMJ, contact Dr. Elder to see how he can help. The doctor's area of coverage includes Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene, and El Paso in Texas, as well as Hobbs in New Mexico.
Published by Vic Belonogoff: A Blair Chiropractic doctor helped heal vertigo, among other conditions that Vic Belonogoff suffered from, and it gave him his life back. He continues to see an upper cervical chiropractor as a preventative measure. Vic Belonogoff is passionate about upper cervical chiropractic and how much it helps patients.